Insulin resistance, also known as metabolic syndrome, is a condition in which cells in the human body’s muscles, fat, and liver do not respond properly to insulin and therefore cannot use blood glucose for energy.
The pancreas constantly produces more insulin to compensate for the increased glucose levels in the blood and to break the resistance built up in the cells. This causes blood sugar levels to rise over time.
Insulin resistance syndrome, which appears to affect one out of every three people on average, can lead to medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
Reasons
Causes and Risk Factors of Insulin Resistance
Individuals with a family history of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop insulin resistance due to genetic factors.
However, environmental factors such as a sedentary lifestyle away from exercise and a diet containing excess calories also contribute to the development of insulin resistance. Muscle, fat and liver tissues are the tissues most affected by insulin resistance. Factors that increase the risk of insulin resistance
Things that can make this condition more likely include:
Seeing as fat, especially in the abdomen,
Obesity,
inactive lifestyle,
a carbohydrate-heavy diet,
gestational diabetes,
Health conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome,
Family history of diabetes
Smoking,
Ethnicity,
Advanced age, especially after 45 years of age,
Hormonal disorders such as Cushing’s Syndrome and acromegaly,
Medications such as steroids, antipsychotics, and HIV drugs
Sleep problems such as sleep apnea.
Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance?
When individuals show insulin resistance, they usually do not have any obvious symptoms or signs. To detect insulin resistance, it is necessary to have a blood test that checks blood sugar levels.
Similarly, testing for other conditions that are part of insulin resistance syndrome, such as high blood pressure, low “good” cholesterol levels, and high triglycerides, needs to be done and the results reviewed by medical professionals.
In order to diagnose insulin resistance under normal conditions, at least three of the following items must be observed.
Waist circumference of 95 cm in men and 80 in women,
Blood pressure values of 130/80 or higher,
A fasting glucose/sugar level above 100 mg/dL
A fasting triglyceride level above 150 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol level below 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women
Spots on the skin and dark, velvety patches of skin called acanthosis nigricans.
Diagnostic Methods
How Is Insulin Resistance Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose the presence of insulin resistance in the individual, the doctor will first question the medical history of the individual’s family. However, he will weigh the individual, measure his height and determine the body mass index value. He or she will then check his blood pressure.
As a result of these measurements, blood tests will be performed if the individual has the potential for insulin resistance. These blood tests include the fasting plasma glucose test, the oral glucose tolerance test, and the hemoglobin A1c test.
Fasting plasma glucose test should not eat anything for at least 8 hours. After these eight hours, blood glucose values are measured.
The oral glucose tolerance test is performed after the fasting glucose test. After the fasting glucose test, a sugary solution is drunk and two hours later this blood test is done.
The hemoglobin A1c test shows the average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. The value of this level is used by doctors to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes.
This also helps to see if diabetes is under control. Repeat testing may be required to confirm the results of this test.
How Does Insulin Resistance Progress to Type 2 Diabetes?
If there is insulin resistance in body cells, the pancreas begins to produce extra insulin to compensate. This response takes effect temporarily and the cells begin to be fed with blood sugar again and blood sugar levels remain normal.
However, over time, the pancreas cannot keep up with this situation. If diet and exercise are not changed, blood sugar levels rise until prediabetes occurs. Doctors look for these values in blood test results for prediabetes:
Fasting plasma glucose test: 100-125 mg/dL
Oral glucose tolerance test: 140-199 mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1c test: 5.7 to 6.4%
If the individual cannot properly control the stage of prediabetes, Diabetes 2 is diagnosed when test results reach the following values:
Fasting plasma glucose test: Above 125 mg / dL
Oral glucose tolerance test: Above 200 mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1c test: Above 6.5%
